Safety-stirrup.



M. F. PERRBLL. SAFETY STIRRUP. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON F. FERRELL, 0F COTTONWOOD, ARIZONA.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON F. FERRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cottonwood, in the county of Yavapai and State of Arizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stirrups, and particularly to that class of stirrups known as safety stirrups, the object of the invention being to provide an ordinary stirrup with means whereby the foot of a rider may be readily disconnected therefrom should a rider fall or be thrown from his horse.

l/Vith the above object in View, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention progresses, the improvement resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a stirrup constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a stirrup constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the upper bar of the stirrup to which the outer stirrup is connected, 2 the arch shaped sides, and 3 the foot plate or connecting member.

The sides 2 in the present instance hzwe their rear portions cut away a suitable distance from the foot plate 3 and the inner face of the said foot plate is provided with a reduced extension forming a shoulder 4. The space between the inner ends of the side members and the cut away portions of the foot plate is adapted to receive a plate 5, the same occupying the entire space thus provided, and the forward end of the said plate 5 is formed with a longitudinally extending recessed portion providing a lip 6 which is adapted to engage with the shoulder 4 of the foot plate of the stirrup. This portion of the plate 5 which I will hereinafter refer to as the safety plate, is heavier than the front portion thereof, so that its lip will normally engage with the shoulder either when pressure is applied to the safety plate 5 or relieved therefrom. The safety Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 635,120.

plate has its under face either provided with trunnions adapted to be received in bearings provided upon the sides of the stirrup, or the said plate may as shown in the drawings be provided with suitable clips 7which are adapted to serve as bearings for a longitudinally extending rod 8 which is connected with the opposite under face of the sides of the stirrup. The clips 7 are arranged adjacent the outer edge of the safety plate 5, and the downward movement of the said plate is limited through the medium of suitable stops 9 provided upon the sides of the stirrup.

Both of the longitudinal edges of the safety plate 5 are rounded, and it will be noted that should an animal become unmanageable in an attempt to throw his rider, a pressure upon the outer end of said plate will cause the same to rotate, thus inclining the foot of the rider, as under such circumstances the rider always exerts a pull upon the bridle and his body will be bent away from the head of the animal. It is the natural tendency of a person attempting to check a fractious animal to pull upon the bridle, thus causing his body to incline rearwardly. The safety plate 5 will in this instance be also inclined rearwardly so should the rider be thrown, the said plate will guide the foot of the rider from out of the stirrup and thus obviate the danger of the thrown rider being dragged upon the ground by the animal.

Having thus fully described the said invention, what I claim is A stirrup having its foot plate cut away and provided with a shoulder, a plate trunnioned to the sides of the stirrup and being provided with a lip adapted to normally engage with the said shoulder, the portion of the plate formed with the lip being heavier than the remainder of the plate, and stops upon the sides of the stirrup for limiting the swinging of the plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MILTON F. FERRELL.

Witnesses:

C. H. RUTHERFORD, ALEX H. LYONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

